Sign In or Register Here


5 plus six

Please enter your e-mail address below. We will email you a link to reset your password.

5 minus two

To complete your registration, please verify your email address.

2 plus zero

We have sent an email to the address you provided. Please click the link in the email to confirm your email address.

Your account has been marked for password reset. Please change your password.

5 minus one

Only registered ICC members have access to this article at this time.

Explore all the benefits that ICC Membership has to offer and become a member today to gain access to this exciting content.

If you're already an ICC member Sign In Now.


Can We Help?
  • Reset My Password
  • I Need More Help
  • Family of Solutions
  • ICCSafe
  • myICC
  • Digital Codes
  • cdpACCESS
  • Store
  • Support
Skip to Main Content
  • ICC Main
  • myICC
  • BSJ
  • Journal
  • Store
  • Store
  • cdpACCESS
  • cdpACCESS
  • Digital Codes
  • Help
  • Help
    • Family of Solutions
    • ICCSafe
    • myICC
    • Digital Codes
    • cdpACCESS
    • Store
    • Support
Building Safety Journal Homepage
Building Safety Journal Homepage
  • Archive
    • July, 2022 Articles
    • June, 2022 Articles
    • May, 2022 Articles
    • April, 2022 Articles
    • March, 2022 Articles
    • Febuary, 2022 Articles
    • 2022 Articles
    • 2021 Articles
  • Browse by Category
    • Deep Dives
    • Member News
    • Personal Perspectives
    • Quick Hits
    • Technical Topics
    • Press Releases
    • Sponsored Content
    • View All
  • Browse by Topic
    • Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design
    • Fire, Wildland-Urban Interface
    • Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas
    • Energy, Solar, Green, Sustainability
    • Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency
  • Subscribe
    • Family of Solutions
    • ICCSafe
    • myICC
    • Digital Codes
    • cdpACCESS
    • Store
    • Support

Join today!

Keep up-to-date on crucial industry news, innovative training and expert technical advice with a free subscription to the award-winning Building Safety Journal.

Subscribe
  • Archive
    • July, 2022 Articles
    • June, 2022 Articles
    • May, 2022 Articles
    • April, 2022 Articles
    • March, 2022 Articles
    • Febuary, 2022 Articles
    • 2022 Articles
    • 2021 Articles
  • Browse by Category
    • Deep Dives
    • Member News
    • Personal Perspectives
    • Quick Hits
    • Technical Topics
    • Press Releases
    • Sponsored Content
    • View All
  • Browse by Topic
    • Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design
    • Fire, Wildland-Urban Interface
    • Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas
    • Energy, Solar, Green, Sustainability
    • Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency
  • Subscribe
  • Archive
    • July, 2022 Articles
    • June, 2022 Articles
    • May, 2022 Articles
    • April, 2022 Articles
    • March, 2022 Articles
    • Febuary, 2022 Articles
    • 2022 Articles
    • 2021 Articles
  • Browse by Category
    • Deep Dives
    • Member News
    • Personal Perspectives
    • Quick Hits
    • Technical Topics
    • Press Releases
    • Sponsored Content
    • View All
  • Browse by Topic
    • Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design
    • Fire, Wildland-Urban Interface
    • Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas
    • Energy, Solar, Green, Sustainability
    • Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency
  • Subscribe

Building department leaders: Charleston County holds to high standards

November 18th, 2019
by Greg West
  • Personal Perspectives

In South Carolina, the Charleston County Building Inspection Services department serves a population of over 400,000 spread across an area covering more than 1,300 square miles. So it comes as no surprise that the team of 29 professionals has a big job. To better meet the needs of its constituents, Department Director Carl Simmons decided to look into the International Accreditation Service (IAS) Building Department Accreditation Program. Designed for governmental agencies and third parties providing building department services, the program spurs enhanced efficiencies, improved decision making and increased consumer confidence.

“We wanted to be held to the highest standard in the public sector and serve the community as best we can,” Simmons said. “Charleston County felt this accreditation would hold us accountable.”

 

Introspection spurs change

Simmons’ team gained value from taking a thoughtful look at their existing procedures and seeking out opportunities to improve. They analyzed their existing standard operating procedures and collaborated with other communities. These steps helped prepare them for the accreditation process.

Throughout the accreditation effort, the Charleston team gained new insights. They initiated next-day inspections as well as a re-review process for both plan reviews and inspections to ensure consistency in the quality of work. They adopted process improvements for quality assurance, audit procedures and customer follow-up, and placed an increased emphasis on teamwork.

 

“Accreditation has definitely made our department better and brought self-awareness.”

— Carl H. Simmons, Director, Charleston County Building Inspection Services

 

Carl H. Simmons, director, Charleston County Building Inspection Services.

The result? “We have a better working system that customers are happier with overall,” Simmons said. “We are always looking for ways to improve and can boast of a well-educated workforce due to the amount of training we now require from our staff.”

“Even though it was a lot of work, the benefits far outweigh the time put in,” Simmons added. “It definitely made our department better and brought self-awareness.”

For Charleston County, accreditation was a building block to improved planning and processes. If your building department could benefit from new ideas and system enhancements, IAS provides a one-day training program for individuals interested in better understanding the requirements for the accreditation of building departments and third-party providers of building department services.

 


This article is part of a series from the International Accreditation Service (IAS) profiling building departments and third-party service providers accredited by IAS — a non-profit accreditation body and a subsidiary of the International Code Council. Building Department Accreditation and Building Department Third-Party Service Providers Accreditation are two of the programs offered by IAS to provide evidence that departments have met a national accreditation standard and are competent to provide public safety services for their communities. To learn more about these accreditation programs, visit Building Department Accreditation and Building Department Third-Party Service Providers Accreditation.

About the Author
Greg West
Greg West is director of the Customer Success Group for the International Accreditation Service. He is responsible for business development, customer service, regulatory services, communications and marketing. West has a broad range of experience in advertising, communications, customer service, marketing, public relations and government relations and has published articles and given presentations internationally about IAS accreditation services, marketing and public relations. West has a master's degree in communications from Oklahoma State University.
Submissions
Check out upcoming BSJ topics and send us articles for consideration:
Or send by email

Want to advertise in the BSJ?
Click Here

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

  • I-Code Essentials
    Purchase Now
  • Spanish I-Codes
    Purchase Now
  • 2021 I-Codes
    Purchase Now
  • Building Resilience General Code
  • Special Inspector Exam
Live Chat
Live Chat
ICC ICC

Subscribe to the Building Safety Journal

Subscribe

Connect with Us

    

ICC Family of Solutions

  • Privacy Policy
  • License Agreement
  • User Agreement
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Policy
aTVAc2QRCYq-vXE8Ch3LmPDMFi9j-O3u5sdcuXO8Q0s=.html